Former Mariner Dan Wilson hits the stage

Published 10:00 pm, Sunday, May 28, 2006

In March, retired Mariners catcher Dan Wilson was coaching replacement Kenji Johjima in the fine points of standing up to runners barreling toward home plate. On Saturday, he'll coach Joey Stoshack on how to stand up to bullying pitchers.

Joey is the "me" part of the Seattle Children's Theatre baseball tale "Honus and Me." This year the SCT has worked out promotional tie-ins with the Mariners. Wilson's two children were in the audience two weeks ago. So the dream-team catcher was an appropriate choice for a walk-on. At the Saturday 5:30 p.m. performance, he will repeat his bit.

"Joey strikes out," explains a SCT staffer. "The opposing pitcher is ridiculing him. Dan Wilson comes on, offers him some encouragement and tells him a few things about holding the bat and standing at the plate."